Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 89

-Ronnie-

Ominis and I walked into the house with a plan. I could only hope that Sebastian stayed away long enough for me to do what I needed to. We would have to act fast, there was no time for hesitation. Not just to prevent Sebastian from disrupting this, but also because Anne could pass at any moment.

Ominis stood near the table in case Sebastian walked in and he needed to stop him from attempting to stop me. I pulled the relic out of my pocket and weighed it in the palm of my hand. The cylindrical shape and ornate design felt harmless enough, but holding it brought back memories. Horrid memories from only a few days ago. The things grief and pain that this relic had brought me... I hoped it would now be able to serve as Anne's salvation.

My purpose carried me forward to Anne's bedside and I looked down at her frail and failing body. She slept but her brow was still furrowed in pain. "This could kill her Ominis..." I said not looking away from her.

"If not this, then the curse will take her by morning..." he responded, his voice heavy with grief.

"She won't have magic... And we don't have time to wake her and ask her... What if she doesn't want this?" I asked as I rolled the relic in my palm, looking down at it. The prongs glinting in the candlelight, they seemed unthreatening enough... though they had caused me such immense pain.

"She would want to live... Without pain... You're doing the right thing. I just... I'm... I'm worried about you... What if it doesn't work... What if you take on the curse?" He asked, his voice cracking.

"If this works and I am able to pull it out of her, then I will destroy it with my ancient magic," I said matter-of-factly, though there was a seed of doubt. I shook my head. I couldn't let it take root. "I would try to do it while my magic was in her body... but... I think that would surely kill her... She's too weak that I'm worried that having my magic inside of her will be too much..."

"Ronnie..." Ominis hesitated, hearing him call me Ronnie pulled my attention back to him. My eyes landed on him and I saw the pain and sadness on his face. "You don't have to do this..."

I took a deep breath to steady myself. "Yes... I do..." I said resolutely.

Ominis gave a slow nod, showing his approval. I wanted to go over to him and hug him but that felt like it was giving into the nagging part of my brain that was worried this wouldn't work, and he seemed to think the same thing. He stayed rooted to his spot, the tip of his wand glowing red.

My gaze fell back on Anne, sleeping but not at peace. Her curse that had seemed to not only be on her... but Sebastian... I had to cure her...- I brought my free hand to my necklace and fiddled with it absentmindedly- Cure him...

I took another deep breath and brought the relic out. Pierce had stabbed it into my side... I would have to do the same... I brought the relic back against my body swiftly with enough force to pierce it into my flesh and I bit my lip to stifle a pained groan.

"Veronica!?"

"I'm alright Om... just taking my magic out..." I muttered through gritted teeth. Blue magic immediately began to swirl at my side and I felt a tugging inside me, and my body felt cold as the relic pulled my magic from me. There was an aching absence inside me that caused an odd muffled noise to escape my lips. I no longer felt whole... a hollowness gripped at my chest as I pulled the relic out of me with a sickening snick.

Sticky crimson pooled on my hand, dripping down my fingers and staining my shirt. I didn't have time to dwell. I brought the relic to Anne. Pierce had stabbed it into his arm... but I needed to find the curse quickly so I brought the relic about her chest, holding it with both of my hands, my blood dripping, almost in slow motion, onto her chest that was rising and falling with ragged breaths.

"I'm going to take it, Anne... Your curse... Your pain... You won't have magic though... but I can't let you die..." I said softly. She didn't even stir. "But... This is going to hurt a hell of a lot...."

And with that, I brought the relic down into her chest.

Anne's back arched and she let out a pained and heart-wrenching moan as I watched blue, ethereal magic flow from the relic into her body. She had thankfully drugged enough to not wake up from the injury I'd inflicted on her, or maybe it was the years of pain that something new wasn't enough to pull her into consciousness. I removed one of my hands from the relic and brought it to her chest just above where I had the relic stabbed into her.

I furrowed my brow and focused on trying to wield my magic while it was inside her. I could almost see it coursing through her blood, attaching itself to every bit of magic until it had filled her completely. I had to resist the strong, and innate need to pull the magic back into myself. I had to give it enough time to latch onto the curse. I needed it to work and I only had one chance. Anne's body trembled beneath my hand and the empty air was now filled with her pained whimpers.

"Hold on Anne..." I said softly. "You have to stay alive... for Sebastian..." I said my voice pleading.

There was a loud crash but I didn't turn my head, relying on Ominis to handle it.

"What the HELL are you doing?!" Sebastian's furious voice rang out through the small cottage.

"Arresto Momentum!" I heard Ominis cast the spell.

I turned away from Anne to look toward the door. Sebastian was frozen in the doorway, his face twisted in anger. "What the fuck are you doing Veronica?!" he bellowed.

I couldn't find words as I held the relic in Anne's chest, my hand still on her and I tried to focus on the magic, willing it to wrap around her curse

"Let me go Ominis!" He demanded and when Ominis did not relent he continued. "You're willing to let Ronnie die! You wouldn't help me cure Anne! You didn't stand by me but now you'll stand by her?!"

"Sebastian... I... I'm sorry..." Ominis said with pain in his voice. "I know I didn't... but I am now... Let us do this!"

"Bullshit! Now that I am the one begging you to stop! That's when?! You don't ever listen to me!" He protested. "If Ronnie dies I swear I'll kill you!" he growled out.

"Bash..." I

"You promised me!" He yelled.

Tears stung my eyes as the anger in his face gave way to betrayal. "I... I had to..." I said, my voice cracking.

Anne gave a shallow breath and her body started to go lax beneath my hand.

"You promised me!" Sebastian yelled again.

I turned to look at him as tears now fell from my eyes to see tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry... I had to..." I repeated.

My heart broke as tears fell from his brown eyes and down his freckled cheeks. "You promised me..." his voice broke.